QUICK TAKES - March 17, 2009

A New York judge on Monday tossed out a lawsuit accusing the makers of “Family Guy” of illegally twisting the song “When You Wish Upon a Star” into an anti-Semitic ballad.

U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts said 20th Century Fox Film Corp., Fox Broadcasting Co. and the Cartoon Network were within their rights to air the animated TV series episode in November 2003. It has since been broadcast at least 35 more times.

Music publishing house Bourne Co. sued the companies to try to stop distribution of the episode. It was titled “When You Wish Upon a Weinstein” and relied on the premise that the main character had to hire a Jewish person to care for his family finances.

The judge said Bourne’s copyright did not protect the “Pinocchio” song from parody.